Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-10-06

hymn Gin which their daughter Nelne's
voice nprdst a. clear aud sweet rs the
Hetta ~ a woodland bird) to notice the
movements Of thclr son, Slowly Joc's
fingers nncloscd, and after a moment
his hand stole back to a place beside lis
fellow.
"Now what is he hb tor thought
Tad, warned by tbs Ahadowy grin on
JooS features And, following the
direction Of his friends eyes, Tad's un-
spoken question was answered. Clumsi-
" clambcring over the back of the
prim rufllo about Miss NasBh's neck
WIS brown wu0d-beetle. as big as
he eRd bf fad's little finger. But be-
fore he could decide what to do Miss
Mason bounced to her feet with a stifed
exclamation. and clutchod frantically
at her back hair. Unfortunately she
caught hold Of the innocent beetle it.
self, and, giving vent to shrill
scream that made the raftcrs of the
house ring. she threw 1t violently from
her. to the great CONSERVATION of
every one IN the house, many of whom
Imagined Miss Mason had discovered a
mouse in the pew.
Mr.. Allen pronounced the bcnedic-
tion aud dismissed his congregation
And naughty Joe Whitney, holding his
cap before his face. chokcd and gaspcd
in the agonics Of suppressed laughter.
all the way TO the door
CHAPTER xL
The promise of April had given
place 10 The fulHllments Of juno. filling
the air with summer sunshine and
beauty. Tad, under the supervision Of
Miss Smith, whose angular features
were shaded by an immense garden
hat, was wedding the pansy-bed in the
front yard. Miss Smith, who was Il
great iluwcielover made somewhat Of
II specially Of cultivating sweet-pcas
and pansies, which she gave away In
their season with liberal hand.
You would hardly have recognized
Tad in the brown-faced boy, in blue
overalls, bending lovingly over the
quaint, upturned fower-faces that
peered into his own. He had taken To
his ncw'vocation with surprising read
iness, aud Miss Smith secretly congrai-
ulatcd herself on having at last found
n boy after her own heart, though she
seldom allowed her satisfaction to show
itself In the form Of words.
Here comes that Forrest chap
again." muttered Miss Smith. discon-
tente,lly, as she glanced toward an
acknowledgement young man who
was sauntcring along the elm-shaded
street; III wish he'd kept away about
his own business, and not come idling
round, taking your attention or n your
work"
For Mr. Paul Forrest was one Of John
DUiy's city boarders. who had scraped
an acquaintance with Tad very soon
after coming to Bixport. He seemed
To take singular interest in Tad,
which, as he explained 20 Miss Smith.
arose from the boys strong resem-
blance to his youngest and only brother,
who had died n year previous
last one, excepting myself, of family
Of sevcn," he said, with sad smile.
For Mr.. Forrest did great deal of
smiling, first aud last; and, curious
enough, Tad, in some vague way, was
reminded by it Of the genial Mr. Jones,
whom he had met in Boston, before
coming To Bixport. OF course, this
was simply an absurd fancy on his
part The fraudulent Jones was n
smooth-faecd young man, with gold
tipped teeth-while Mr.. Paul Forrest
sported n very glossy black mustache,
that had a purplish tinge in certain
lights, and the whitest and most even
teeth that were ever seen outside a
dentists establishment; neither was the
little blueish scar visible upon Mr.
Forests white forehead, that Tad had
noticed upon the intellectual brow Of
Jones. Yet, all the same. he often un-
consciously connected the two in his
mind. even while he laughed at his
own folly in so doing.
"Miss Smith, good-morning-Tad.
my boy, how are you?n exclaimed Mr..
Forrest, with his effusiye smile. as he
loungcd idly up the garden-path, and,
with a GOODNESS peculiar to himself, sat
down on the edge Of the garden piazza.
Miss Smith stiffly acknowledged the
greeting, and Tad, glancing up shyly,
said he was pretty well. He was a lit
ile fiattercd by Mr.. FORESTS evident
interest in himself though he was not
quite sure that he liked it. after all. He
had nothing in common with the city
bred gentleman, and was rather puz-
zlcd to know what Mr. Forrest could
have in common with himself.
Come into the house after YOU get
through wedding. Tad; want you. A"
said Miss Smith, stalking past the una
Dashed Mr., Forrest; who sat quite at
his ease, with the ivory head Of his cane
between his lips.
"Ycs'm.n Was the meek reply, and
Tad silently continued his work, wish
ing that Mr.. Forrest would go, for ne
was very well aware that Miss Smith
did not at all approve Of the gentle
mans frequent yisitations.
In a small village like Bixport, where
every bOdy's business is public prop
erty, the story Of Tad and his travelling
sachel was generally known. rs was
also the fact that no attention had ever